Just 50 years old, Darren Robson, a prominent figure in the coaching profession, died unexpectedly last month (April). A rare talent indeed, below, we pay tribute to him.
Darren Robson was a global board director at the Association for Coaching and an entrepreneurial leadership coach, adviser and mentor through DRA High Fidelity Systems, which he founded in 2011. He was also the founder of MOE (Ministry of Entrepreneurship) Foundation, a philanthropic venture to support young people from less privileged backgrounds.
His commitment to helping the underprivileged was fuelled by his own background of poverty on a council estate and the loss of his beloved mother. Despite his lack of interest in school, he became the first in his family to attend university, gaining a First and an award for Best Performing Student.
Robson was also a father of three daughters, and a dear friend to many, including myself. Like so many others, I was on the receiving end of his loving yet challenging support – in the early days of developing mindful coaching – because he believed what I was doing was good for the world.
He had a deep passion for making a difference, enormous drive and creativity, a quirky way of seeing the world, and a belief in the massively untapped potential of us all. When I interviewed him in 2015, he was just 42 yet had achieved so much already. Sadly, he finished by saying he hoped he had at least another 40 years to go. It wasn’t to be.
I’ll finish by sharing a quote from that interview: “What I am passionate about is the [coaching] people and the profession, about evolving the global mindset and the human spirit to leave a lasting and positive legacy in the world. I genuinely believe we have the opportunity through coaching to get us as a tribe, as human beings, to grow up and mature.”
– Darren Robson
Liz Hall, editor, Coaching at Work
What others say
Darren’s ability to listen and his generous spirit made him a unique gem. He was a ‘purposeful entrepreneur’, a creative, a husband, and a devoted father, but he was so much more than that. He was a leader, humble and visionary, who believed in the potential of human kind. He was deeply proud of our work at the Association for Coaching and also of his social enterprise, MOE, in his pursuit to overcome a poverty mindset and helping people to empower themselves, through coaching.
He was a man who inspired and motivated others to be their best selves, and his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched.
Thank you for being an incredible role model and for leaving a lasting impression on all of us.
Rest in peace, dear friend…x
Katherine Tulpa, CEO Association for Coaching
Darren was a great man in so many ways: brave, kind, innovative, and always ready to help others. I am constantly running into people whose lives have been turned around through the MOE Foundation. What a legacy! It has been a real privilege to know and work with him over the last 20 years, both at MOE and the Association for Coaching, where his presence and energy also contributed so much.
“My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends – It gives a lovely light!”
– Edna St Vincent Millay
Carol Wilson, CEO Culture at Work, board trustee, MOE Foundation
- Read a profile of Robson in Coaching at Work: https://www.coaching-at-work.com/2015/02/19/a-rare-talent/
- To read more comments about Robson or to pay tribute, go to: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/hZMTLQXg